Connected digital photo frame manufacturer Isabella Products has launched their latest product, the Isabella Mini, and the USB dongle promises to make regular digital frames and TVs wireless-aware. Inside is an AT&T modem and support for Isabella’s VizitMe wireless photo sharing service: users will be able to receive emailed or MMS’d photos direct to the screen from their contacts, as well as from online galleries like Photobucket.
Since the dongle is separate from the display, it can be moved around from screen to screen. Alternatively, Isabella reckon it could be popular with businesses wanting to set up straightforward digital signage systems, remotely updating content or establishing temporary displays.
No pricing for the Mini stick has been announced, nor ongoing costs, but we’re assuming it’ll use the same monthly plans as the existing Isabella Vizit photo frame: that means up to 100 photos received per month for $5.99 each month, or up to 1,450 photos per year for a yearly $79.99 payment.
Press Release:
Mini™ adds wireless capability, connecting millions of digital displays to VizitMe
CONCORD, MA January 5, 2011 —Isabella Products, a leading mobile Internet device and services company, today announced MiniTM, the world’s first wirelessly connected USB stick for photo-sharing. Powered by the AT&T* mobile broadband network, Mini is poised to deliver real-time photo sharing to millions of unconnected digital photo frames, displays, and televisions through Isabella’s VizitMe content management service. Mini will essentially allow users to connect their digital photo frames wirelessly, enabling remote access and management such that new photos can be delivered to the frame in just minutes.
By connecting to the VizitMe content management service, users can directly upload photos to Mini, securely store their photo collection, and manage their friends and family in Mini’s own dedicated online contact list. Mini will also be equipped to receive third party content from partners like Photobucket and LIFE.com. Users can simply plug Mini into their existing digital photo frame or digital television to breathe new life into a previously unconnected device. Mini will be available in Q2 2011 on VizitMe.com and through other select online and offline retailers.
“We are extremely excited to introduce Mini as our next innovative mobile Internet device aimed at connecting families wirelessly from anywhere in the U.S.” said Matthew I. Growney, Founder and CEO of Isabella Products. “The flexibility of the VizitMe.com platform allows us to effectively connect unconnected USB-enabled digital photo frames through a pocket-sized mobile device like Mini so consumers can enjoy real-time photo sharing.”
“Mini is another innovative solution from Isabella that quickly and conveniently connects family and friends through photos,” said Glenn Lurie, president, emerging devices, AT&T. “By connecting over the AT&T mobile broadband network, photo frames no longer need to sit idle. We look forward to helping redefine photo-sharing for families across the nation.”
Family and friends can immediately begin sending photos to Mini through a dedicated email address that connects to the frame in real-time. Mini can be enjoyed with a digital photo frame at home and taken next door where it is plugged into another display device like a digital television for friends and family to collectively watch vacation photos, share in wedding memories, celebrate an anniversary, or recap the year in pictures.
Businesses can use Mini to cost effectively create a digital signage network. Business owners or retailers can remotely manage their existing digital displays or digital televisions by using Mini and VizitMe to remotely update or modify content, target specific locations, provide custom offers, or simply enhance real-time messaging.
For more information about Mini and Isabella’s product portfolio, please go to www.isabellaproducts.com.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
Passed on Isabella Products’ Vizit digital photo frame? ‘Tis a shame, really. But hey, if you were one of the millions gifted with a lackluster, non-connected digiframe over the past few years, at least the aforesaid company is giving you a way to make things right. The outfit’s newly launched Mini is one special USB key, embedded with an AT&T 3G SIM and tailor made to provide cellular connectivity to dormant frames. The key is linked to one’s VizitMe content management service, and users will be able to email photos directly or have the device extract content from Photobucket and LIFE.com; once received, owners will see new images pop up on any frame that accepts USB keys. Furthermore, these same emailed images can be viewed on USB-equipped monitors and televisions. The company’s planning to ship the Mini in Q2 of this year for an undisclosed rate, but naturally, we’re more interested in the potential unadvertised capabilities. An off-contract, fee-free USB key with an AT&T SIM card within? Sounds like we’re just a hack or two away from the most beautiful mobile broadband card this world has ever seen.
A few cameras and accessory lenses on the market today allow us to shoot 3D photos. All of those photos need either a 3D TV to view or a special digital photo frame for showing them off. A company called Rollei has unveiled a new digital camera that shows 3D photos and a new digital photo frame for showing those photos off.
The camera will hit the market for purchase next year and it is called the Power Flex 3D. It takes 3D photos by shooting two pics at the same time with dual 5MP sensors. The camera also has the ability to record video in 720p resolution. The rear LCD is a 2.8-inch unit that can show 3D images without needing glasses.
The camera also shoots in 2D mode with 8x digital zoom and it has an HDMI output. The digital photo frame is a 7-inch screen mode and shows images at 800 x 480 resolution. The frame ships with software for making 2D photos into 3D. The frame also has an internal rechargeable battery good for up to 3-hours. The frame will ship at the end of January for 299.95 euro and the price of the camera is unknown.
The popularity of digital photo frames as a no-thought-involved gift has tapered off over the past couple of years, but I would have loved to gift this Frankenstein of low-techery to someone who would appreciate its absurdity. From a company called TAO this $150 lamp features a tiny 3.5-inch LCD display on the base, forcing anyone who actually cares about the photos being displayed to crowd in as close as possible. And I’m assuming that LCD isn’t of the highest quality, so actually turning on the lamp probably washes out the image.
It’s got 128MB of memory which is enough to store around 1,500 photos if you shrink them down to the display’s 720×486 resolution ahead of time, and the LCD features touch screen capabilities ensuring it will be covered in smudgy fingerprints in no time.
Simplistic messaging company Peek is looking to move away from standalone hardware and instead position itself as a software provider for budget-smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturers. CEO Amol Sarva told GigaOm that Peek’s power-frugral software – which offers support for push-email, location-based services and basic social networking integration, all on 100MHz chips – is set to arrive on five phones in the next month, and on thirty by the end of 2011.
Peek has been working to make its software compatible with Qualcomm’s ultra-low cost BREW platform – as powering the HTC Smart – as well as on MediaTek chips. The combination, Sarva says, will see very low-end smartphones produced to take on emerging markets in India, Africa and Latin America, among others, with unsubsidized pricing reaching as little as $50. The software is designed to cope with the sort of patchy, non-3G coverage that is common in such markets.
“This is a huge opportunity for us. We’ve built technology that no one cared about but now we’re suddenly being approached by guys who have the hardware that want to make it smart.” Amol Sara, CEO, Peek
Meanwhile, Peek is apparently in talks with consumer electronics makers – including those responsible for digital photo frames, cameras, tablets, clock radios and PMPs – regarding using the same software and back-end services in upcoming devices. “If you’re a camera maker, you can put in 3G and move in the direction of a phone” Sarva says. The expectation is that revenue from software applications will eventually account for up to 80-percent of Peek’s business.
For some people, a digital photo frame is exactly what they’re looking for this holiday season. For others, it’s a gadget that just do enough to warrant a purchase. Epson decided to make not only a digital photo frame, but also attach a photo printer on their for good measure, which the company hopes will catch the eye of anyone who wants a quick and easy way to not only show off their pictures, but also print them off.
The PictureMate Show is similar to the company’s previous PictureMate Charm photo printer, but this one brings several updates and improvements to the previous Charm. You get a larger LCD display this time around. At 7-inches, the Show’s digital photo frame should be big enough to show off your photos to family and friends. However, if you’re looking for a range of sizes to print from, the Show won’t be your printer of choice. Prints can only be 4 x 6. An interesting design choice, was to include a remote control for usage controls, and not providing a touchscreen interface on the 7-inch LCD display.
You can load images into the photo frame via an SD card slot, or from the integrated USB port. There’s also an optional Bluetooth adapter, which should let you send images from a Bluetooth-enabled picture taking device, right to the PictureMate Show. If you’re thinking this would be the perfect gift for someone you know, or yourself, you can head on through here, and pick one up for $299.99.
Digital photo frames have never been at the top of my gift recommendation list. Too much of a unitasker for my liking. But you slap a printer on there like Epson has done with their PictureMate Show, and you’ve got yourself a decent gift idea for those who like to share their memories. As digital photo frames go it does gobble up a bit more desk/fireplace mantle/dresser space, but sending a copy of a photo home with a loved one is as easy as them hitting the print button.
You are limited to 4×6 prints though which take about 37 seconds to spit out, but if there’s a specific part of a photo you want to concentrate on you do have the ability to maximize those 24 square inches thanks to cropping functions accessible via the included wireless remote. Yes, a touchscreen interface on the 7-inch LCD would have probably been far more intuitive, but at least you don’t have to worry about constantly buffing out fingerprints.
Photos can be loaded onto the PictureMate Show using its built-in SD card slot, or you can attach a flash drive or digital camera directly to its USB port. And an optional Bluetooth adapter presumably lets you send them straight from a camera-equipped phone. At $299.99 it’s more expensive than buying a printer and digital photo frame separately and then taping them together, so I guess you’re paying a premium for a slightly sleeker form factor.
If you’re the sort who fancies a digital picture frame and a stereo dock for your iPhone, Panasonic‘s new MW-20 might just be the thing to converge and satiate those needs. The 9-inch frame can display pictures via SD card, 2GB internal memory, or an iPhone / iPod touch via the bundled dock — and if you’ve got the device connected, you can also play music video via the frame’s internal stereo speakers (there’s no indication of any audio out for using your own speaker system, however). Additionally, the MW-10 successor has a touted 15 different display patterns, including some calendar and clock functionality. Pictures taken with a Lumix camera? The MW-20 has a function that’ll group photos by style (i.e. all nighttime scenery). Look for it during your haze of Christmas shopping in late November for — and here’s the part that’s gonna sting — just one dollar shy of $250. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Scenes from the CEATEC show floor below.
I’m normally not a big fan of the whole digital photo frame trend, but since I’ve been using my iPhone 4 more and more as my day-to-day digital camera, I like this prototype that Panasonic has on display at their booth at CEATEC. Instead of having to transfer photos to an SD card to load them up on the frame you simply dock your iPhone or iPod touch which is probably already chock full of galleries. Other details are pretty sparse, and since it’s a prototype who knows if it will ever see the light of day. If it does though here’s to hoping they find a way to better integrate that dock, since this side-by-side setup looks a little awkward.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised; Panasonic‘s latest digital photo frame has sprouted an iPhone dock, allowing you to not only display images stored on its 2GB of internal storage but any pictures on the Apple smartphone. The Panasonic MW-20 has a 9-inch LCD display on an adjustable hinge, and also works as a speaker-dock thanks to its 5.6-mm Super Slim Semi Dome Speaker and sound diffuser.
The display adjusts its backlighting according to the ambient conditions, and it’ll obviously recharge your iPhone (or, indeed, your iPod touch) while it’s docked. There’s also an SD card slot and support for Panasonic’s LUMIX Scene Mode Playback which, if you’re shooting with a compatible camera from the company, can automatically pull together photos shot in the various different camera modes (e.g. nighttime, sports, etc.).
You can also choose to show a clock, calendar or other screensavers; in fact the only thing really missing is WiFi and/or 3G, and it’s a shame you can’t tether the phone and use its connection like with the Transgear model we wrote about back in 2009. The Panasonic MW-20 will go on sale in late November 2010, priced at $249.95.
Press Release:
PANASONIC ANNOUNCES DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME – COMPLETE WITH STEREO SOUND SYSTEM FOR PLAYING PHOTOS MUSIC AND VIDEOS WITH EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY
New Panasonic MW-20 is a Versatile and Stylish Multimedia System,
Compatible with iPod Touch® and iPhone® for Convenient Playback
SECAUCUS, NJ (October 4, 2010) – Panasonic today announced the MW-20, a digital photo frame that doubles as a stereo sound system, complete with iPod Touch® and iPhone® compatibility – using the supplied cradle to display photos and play music stored on the popular mobile devices is easy and convenient. The MW-20, a slim multimedia system, also charges the iPod Touch/iPhone while it is connected to the cradle.
The Panasonic MW-20 can play back videos and photos on its large, high-resolution 9-inch screen, while incorporating advanced audio technology to provide superb sound quality.
Below the screen, there is a 5.6-mm Super Slim Semi Dome Speaker and a diffuser that optimizes the sound. In addition, the built-in DSP (Digital Signal Processor) adjusts the audio signal to suit the audio characteristics of this speaker system.
“The Panasonic MW-20 has a stylish and slim design that will complement any home décor and given its versatility to display photos, videos, play music and even charge an iPhone – we think this will be a welcomed addition this holiday season,” said David Fisher, Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Beyond its design and versatility, the MW-20 is also a powerful gadget – with exceptional sound quality to listen to music and a large nine-inch screen to view digital photos and videos.”
The MW-20 has an Adjustable Angle Display1 system that allows the angle to be changed to suit the viewing direction. With the supplied fixture, the MW-20 can be positioned in landscape orientation or hung on a wall. The MW-20 can display photos shot with a digital still camera by inserting an SD Memory Card into its slot. The MW-20 has 2GB of built-in memory for additional storage. The MW-20 features the LUMIX Scene Mode Playback function, which enables users to play back selected groups of photos shot with a Panasonic LUMIX digital camera using the iA Intelligent Scene Selector mode (Night Scenery, Portrait, Scenery, etc.). The MW-20 features 15 different display patterns to show a calendar, clock, photo – whichever combination the user prefers.
The MW-20 features an environmentally-conscious power-saving feature, with a luminance sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen according to the room lighting. For instance, when a room is dark, the MW-20 automatically shuts off. The Panasonic MW-20 will be available in late-November 2010 with a suggested retail price of $249.95. For more information, visit www.panasonic.com.
